Best! Picture Oscar-Winning Musicals Box Set: 3 DVDs
Here are details about these 3 superb musicals in this 3 DVD box set:
Director Vincente Minnelli lavishly staged, "An American in Paris" (1951), staring Gene Kelly & Leslie Caron, is spectacular. A classic musical, it was nominated for 8 Oscars & won 6, in 1952, as follows:
Nominated
Best Director: Vincente Minnelli
Best Film Editing: Adrienne Fazan
Won
Best Picture: Arthur Freed
Best Writing, Story & Screenplay: Alan Jay Lerner
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color: Cedric Gibbons, E. Preston Ames,
Edwin B. Willis & F. Keogh Gleason
Best Cinematography: Alfred Gilks & John Alton
Best Costume Design: Orry-Kelly, Walter Plunkett & Irene Sharaff
Won Best Scoring of a Musical Picture: Johnny Green & Saul Chaplin
DVD features: Full Frame. Dolby Digital Mono in English & French. Original theatrical trailer. Filmed in Technicolor. Runtime is 113 minutes.
Director Vincente Minnelli's orantely elaborately staged, "Gigi" (1958), staring Maurice Chevalier & Leslie Caron, is 1 of the most memorable musicals. It was nominated for 9 Oscars & won them all, in 1959!, as follows:
Won
Best Director: Vincente Minnelli
Best Picture: Arthur Freed
Won Best Music, Original Song "Gigi": Frederick Loewe (music), Alan Jay Lerner (lyrics). Maurice Chevalier sings the title song making it unforgettable.
Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture: André Previn
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: Alan Jay Lerner (Note: he won 2 Oscars for song & script writing).
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color: William A. Horning, E. Preston Ames, Henry Grace, F. Keogh Gleason
Best Cinematography, Color: Joseph Ruttenberg
Best Costume Design, Color: Cecil Beaton
Best Film Editing: Adrienne Fazan
DVD features: Letterboxing. Dolby Digital Stereo in English. The original theatrical trailer. Filmed in Metrocolor. Runtime is 116 minutes.
Vincente Minnelli was a genuis envisioning the layout of scenes. During the filming of "Gigi," Minnelli's autobiography reveals an instance that demonstrates how his visions led to filmmaking innovations. "Gigi's" film crew wanted to cover the mirrored walls in "Maxim's" because cameras & spotlights reflected in them. However, Minnelli insisted the mirrors had to stay since they were the signature of the famous restaurant. Cinematographers had no choice but to create a technique that worked. They did so by putting suction cups on flood lights!
George Cukor's "My Fair Lady" (1964), remains a best loved musical, staring Audrey Hepburn, Rex harrison, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Stanley Holloway, Gladys Cooper & Jeremy Brett. It was nominated for 12 Oscars & won 8, as follows:
Nominated
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Stanley Holloway
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Gladys Cooper
Best Film Editing: William H. Ziegler
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium:
Alan Jay Lerner
Won
Best Director: George Cukor
Best Picture: Jack L. Warner
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Rex Harrison
Best Music, Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment: André Previn
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color: Gene Allen, Cecil Beaton & George James Hopkins
Best Cinematography, Color: Harry Stradling Sr.
Best Costume Design, Color: Cecil Beaton
Best Sound: George Groves (Warner Bros. SSD)
DVD Features: Audio Commentary. Featurette: "The Fairest Lady." Alternate Audio Vocals: Audrey Hepburn's. Original theatrical trailer~Read full review
